Excelsior Correspondent
Tulmulla (Ganderbal) May 26: Thousands of Kashmiri Pandits settled in different parts of the country today participated in the Khir Bhawani Mela at Ragnya Devi temple at Khirbhawani Tulmulla in Central Kashmir district of Ganderbal.
Some of these Kashmiri Pandits attended the annual festival of Khir Bhawani for the first time since their migration in 1990. The annual mela provides opportunity to the displaced community to visit their roots.
“This is an opportunity to meet our Muslim brethren. Their response has been overwhelming. It speaks of the bond Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims are sharing despite 25 years turmoil,” said Ruhi Pandita.
“There is no change in the relations between the two communities though, some vested interests are making attempts to create wedge between the two communities.
A large number of Muslims had come from different parts of the Valley to meet the Kashmiri Pandits, who had come from Jammu, Delhi, Chandigrah, Himachal Pradesh and other parts of the country.
Those who were born after 90s, said Kashmir is very beautiful and we want to live here. However, others said that they were now settled outside, where there were vast opportunities for employment and education. But majority of them could not speak in Kashmiri.
Meenakshi Koul was born in 1995 in Jammu and she wants to return to her home land. “We want to live in separate townships where Muslims can also live. But at present we can’t go to the places where we were living as some people have sold it and some don’t want to live there”, she added.
The annual festival is held here on Jesht Ashtami when Kashmiri Pandits offer prayers to seek the blessings of the diety.
The Pandits said that before their migration from Kashmir, they used to visit the temple on every Shukla Paksh Ashtami round the year and perform ‘hawan’ to please the Mother.
The historic temple of Khirbhawani was built by Maharaja Pratap Singh in 1912 and later renovated by Maharaja Hari Singh.
Different Government departments besides a number of private organisations had set up stall for the devotees. The authorities have made all arrangments for the Mela at Khir Bhawani temple at Tulmulla, where it is said that a holy spring changes its colours from time to time.
The number of devotees, which declined after the migration of the Pandit community from here in early 90s witnessed several-fold increase during the past few years.
Chairman of Administrative Committee Ram Krishan Maha Samalan Ashram (RKMSA), B L Bhat said that they were expecting 30,000 devotees to take part in the Mela. However, he said, for the first time after 90’s, migrant pandits are visiting their respective areas and organising “Hawan” on the occasion, including Kupwara, Anantnag, Kulgam and Badgam districts.
Various stalls were organised volunteers of political parties including BJP, PDP, Congress, NC, and People’s Republican Party to serve cold water and assisted devotees.
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